As for rumors of my demise, they're still somewhat premature. They finally let me out of the hospital again Thursday... Still feel like merde, principally because I've got some mystery infection they still haven't figured out, even after dozens of tests and exotic diagnostic procedures.

Still aspiring to pull off some phoenix act, get out a few dozen more translations, and maybe even start giving Dharma talks again, this with the intention of clarifying numerous misperceptions western Buddhists cherish about the Path. So, even as horribly painful as this whole process has been (and continues to be), I'm not giving up, period.

Dharma Master Heng Shou has suffered a lot these past few years, but I'm glad he's finally gotten over the worst part of his illness. Everyday during the Ten Thousand Buddha's Repentance, the fourfold assembly of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas would dedicate merit to him in hopes of a speedy recovery. I think we're all very glad and happy that he'll be staying with us for a lot longer now.

Though still plenty messed up, I'm feeling much, much better, being able, taking it slow, and with the aid of a cane, to take quite long walks even several times per day and the supposed "infection"... seems to be a mere matter of night sweats and middling fevers, known initial side effects from a couple of the 3 immuno-suppressant meds I'm taking on top of about 25 other temporary subsidiary meds.

Basically, there is not even one buddha, only great wisdom. Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua

Re your update question, not good, not bad: They keep pulling me back to hospital, 3x inpatient, for drains, biopsies, etc. Never a dull moment, but I try to just surf on it. Recovery seems to be a long rocky road repeatedly blocked by karmic obstacles. Oh, well...

Basically, there is not even one buddha, only great wisdom. Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua

He is about one-third through the large dasabhumika vibhasa of Nagarjuna. This is a commentary on the Ten Bodhisattva Grounds. When finished, in the facing-page Chinese format, it will run around 1600 pages, in two volumes.

Donations via the Kalavinka Press site will be put to excellent Dharma use.

Basically, there is not even one buddha, only great wisdom. Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua

I'm curious as to how Ven. Bhikshu Dharmamitra is doing these days, post liver transplant. Very hopeful that he is well and happy. I have been reading excerpts from his excellent "The Essentials of Buddhist Meditation By Shramana Zhiyi (Chih-i)" and have been enjoying the insights the Venerable presents in his translation of this (IMO) important text.

I tried to google his name for an update, with no luck. Does anyone have any feedback on how is his health, and how he is doing generally? Thanks in advance.

BuddhaSoup wrote:I'm curious as to how Ven. Bhikshu Dharmamitra is doing these days, post liver transplant. Very hopeful that he is well and happy. I have been reading excerpts from his excellent "The Essentials of Buddhist Meditation By Shramana Zhiyi (Chih-i)" and have been enjoying the insights the Venerable presents in his translation of this (IMO) important text.

I tried to google his name for an update, with no luck. Does anyone have any feedback on how is his health, and how he is doing generally? Thanks in advance.

He's doing pretty well, all things considering. Thus, back to his old full time translation schedule. His latest batch of translations are now with the semiofficial proof reading team, to send in feedback before revision and then on to print.

Huifeng wrote:He's doing pretty well, all things considering. Thus, back to his old full time translation schedule. His latest batch of translations are now with the semiofficial proof reading team, to send in feedback before revision and then on to print.

Excellent news all around!

If you believe certain words, you believe their hidden arguments. When you believe something is right or wrong, true of false, you believe the assumptions in the words which express the arguments. Such assumptions are often full of holes, but remain most precious to the convinced.

Here is a snip from an early draft of Kumarajiva's version of the Ten Grounds Sutra. Vajragarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva is teaching:

The path of the Buddhas, the lords among the Āryas, is subtle, sublime, extremely difficult to comprehend, and not such as can be realized through thought’s calculations, As such, it is a region coursed in only by the wise. Its essential nature, from its origins on forth to the present, is quiescently still and devoid of any production or extinction. From its origins on forth to the present, it is that emptiness wherein all sufferings and torments are utterly extinguished. It departs distantly beyond all of the destinies of rebirth and is characterized by its identity with nirvāṇa itself. In it, there is no middle and no end. It is not such as can be described through words and phrases. It transcends the three periods of time and, in character, is comparable to empty space. This region wherein the Buddhas course is that of purity and profoundly quiescent cessation. This is such as verbal descriptions find difficult to approach. So too it is with the practices coursed in on the grounds. If even describing them remains such a difficulty, how much the more so would it be to reveal them to others. The wisdom of the Buddhas abandons the pathways accessible to the mental factors, cannot be conceived of by thought or described in words, and is not a place wherein aggregates, sense realms, or sense bases exist. One can only come to know it through wisdom as it is not such as can be reached as an object of the consciousnesses. It is as difficult to describe as tracks of travel through the air. How then could one succeed in revealing any characteristic marks? The meanings associated with the ten grounds are just like this. They are not such as a mind not boundlessly vast can ever know. Although these matters are inherently difficult, one brings forth vows, coursing thence in kindness and compassion. One’s gradual fulfillment of practice on the ten grounds is not such as one might arrive at through thought. This sort of practice on the grounds is subtle, sublime, and especially difficult to perceive. One cannot know them through thought and must take on the powers of the Buddhas to describe them. You should all now attend to this with that reverence wherein everyone joins together in listening single-mindedly.

Basically, there is not even one buddha, only great wisdom. Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua

A Dharma point emphasizing the need for practice; from the Ten Grounds Sutra, Second Ground:

If one fails to personally course in goodness himself, and yet nonetheless expects that he might cause others to dwell in goodness simply by explaining such dharmas for their sakes, this would be a complete impossibility.

Basically, there is not even one buddha, only great wisdom. Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua

Is this Ten Grounds Sutra to come out in 2 editions, one bare-bones translation for Numata and one with supporting apparatus under his own imprint? I thought I heard something about a dual publishing project.

Thought I'd go ahead and pen myself what I hope will be the final installment of the Dharmamitra / Heng Shou updates heretofore so graciously authored by my dear sister.

I was for the first time able only yesterday (6/20) [2010] to get up and walk around in monks robes. By coincidence, this day happened to correspond to the 15th memorial ceremony commemorating and celebrating the marvelous bodhisattvic life of my dear late guru, the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua.

Many thanks to all those many people who supported my rescue from a deep chasm of black karma and supported my recovery in so many ways. I am so deeply grateful for all your efforts on my behalf.

Should still take another 6 months to recover completely, but as it stands now, all signs point to the likelihood of genuinely restored health and the ability to continue my life's work of translating sacred Buddhist texts.

With best wishes for the happiness of all, I am ever your friend in Dharma,Bhikshu Dharmamitra / a.k.a Heng Shou

It has been four years now and that liver is acting up. He will get it thoroughly checked out in June.

May he recover swiftly, regain his strength and health to be able to continue his most beneficial work of which so many people will benefit greatly!

今以佛眼觀之佛與眾生同住解脫之床。無此無彼無二平等。Now, observing with the eye of the Buddha, both the Buddha and ordinary beings are in the same liberated state. There is neither this nor that: there is only non-duality and identity.- 空海 Kūkai in Unjigi 吽字義 The Meaning of the Letter Hūṃ - Kūkai on the Philosophy of Language by Takagi Shingen and Dreitlein Eijō_______Śrī Singha said to Padmasambhava:Since buddhas and sentient beings are inseparable and the same, it is necessary to respect all sentient beings as being on the same level with the buddhas. Can you? - translated by Malcolm N. Smith

There is a 90% probability that Bhikshu Dharmamitra, can be cured of his present affliction, which affects the staying power of his transplanted liver. That will grant him (karma willing) another 6 or 7 years of translating, as opposed to only 1 or 2 more years.

However, this cure costs well over $100,000.

So call upon all wealth attracting forces to help him out!

Basically, there is not even one buddha, only great wisdom. Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua

We will need to set up a foundation/fund for him to in order to raise money for the treatment. Would it be possible to get the treatment at a westernized hospital in Thailand at generally 1/10th the cost and no loss of quality?

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.